Jokhang, Zhaoqing 4th year, April 21.

Under the gloomy sky, on the post road one hundred and twenty miles north of Qingxi in Jianbei, the trees on both sides are high and the forests are deep, and no bird sounds come out, and everything is silent.

On the official road, several horses dragged more than a dozen boxes forward, and dozens of officers and soldiers were guarding on both sides.

This is the official silver gathered from all over the place, ready to be transported to Qingxi to repair the post road and city defense, the chief officer in charge of the escort knew that this matter was only last year under the instruction of Gao Yushi, it is said that Gao Yushi and Qingxi County Cheng Chen Zishi had a very good relationship, so he was very careful to escort this batch of official silver.

"Be vigilant, you're going to enter the county soon, cheer me up!" The military attache who rode at the front solemnly reminded everyone.

I don't know if it's because of the long drive, the soldiers escorted looked a little sluggish.

Even if the adults reminded them, they didn't bring up much spirit.

It wasn't until a fierce wind blew from the dense forest on both sides that the refreshing feeling swept across the faces, which lifted the spirits of many soldiers.

However, strange things happened.

When the wind breathed, the trees in the dense forest on both sides were still rattling.

As far as the eye can see, the branches of the trees are swaying, as if someone has deliberately done it.

"Alert!" The military attaché's nerves tensed for a moment, and he pulled out the long knife at his waist.

Someone looked at the swaying woods and said, "Didn't you hear that since Chen Zishi took office, the biggest bandit in Qingxi County, Heiyun Village, has been exterminated?" ”

As soon as the words fell.

From the depths of the woods there was a strange cry of coldness.

The already gloomy sky, and then there was a dense forest to cover it, and for a while, the surrounding light became even darker.

The wind roared, and strange sounds came out from the depths of the dense forest.

I don't know who suddenly said: "I heard that not long ago, a young girl died tragically here, no... It won't be..."

"Hugh is talking nonsense,"

The military attache said sharply: "Who is pretending to be a ghost here, get out of here!" ”

"Okay~ah~, we~this~come out~" A jagged gloomy voice suddenly came from the depths of the forest, as if all the ghosts had gathered here.

The next moment.

In the woods on the other side, where there was no sound behind them, dozens of white shadows suddenly flew out.

The voices of misery, horror, and fear sounded one after another on the official road.

The next day, the weather cleared.

Another team of horses and chariots came slowly from a distance.

"My lord, a large number of corpses were found in front of you, and the death was tragic!"

A soldier came to pass the word.

The man in the carriage was dressed in official uniforms, holding a straight knife in his hand, his complexion was dark, and his eyebrows were heroic, and the most attractive thing should be his ears that were bigger than ordinary people.

Hearing the rumor from the attendants outside, the man pushed the car door, his eyes were like knives, and his tone was as hard as a stone, "I never thought that before I entered Qingxi, I saw a big case, it seems that this county lieutenant Chen has a false name." ”

It turned out that he was Zhang Yuan and Zhang Bogui, the county lieutenant who went to Qingxi to take up his post.

He got out of the carriage and quickly led the people to the scene of the crime, where there were about two dozen corpses lying on the ground, each with their eyeballs gouged out, and each of them had a shocking claw mark on their neck.

Someone secretly swallowed a mouthful of saliva, "This is too brutal, what is the deep hatred and hatred, and it is so vicious." ”

"yes, and these people not only gouge people's eyes, but also take away their clothes."

Yes, these people only have one undergarment left.

Zhang Bogui noticed the debris of the carriage scattered on the ground, and immediately leaned over to approach a deceased, lifted the other party's clothes, pondered for a moment and said slowly: "These people should be soldiers. ”

"Why do you say that?" One person asked in great confusion.

"You look at the physique of these deceased, if it is just ordinary people, it is impossible for ordinary people to have such a physique, one is fine, but most of them are like this,"

Zhang Bogui picked up the knives on the ground again and said, "There are also these knives, which are the imperial court standard, so I can conclude that they are all soldiers, and they should have escorted something and were robbed." ”

"My lord, I remember that not long ago, the imperial court allocated a large amount of money to Qingxi County, could these people be the ones who escorted the official silver?"

Hearing this, Zhang Bogui stared intently at the wooden residue he had picked up from the ground, and there was a car wheel scattered on the ground.

He suddenly made up his mind, and said solemnly: "You guys take your time from behind, and this official will go to Qingxi first to report this matter to the Huang County Order." ”

As he spoke, he had already turned over and mounted his horse.

As soon as the whip fell, it seemed that no one could advise him, and he rode away.

……

On the square outside the Ya of Qingxi County, Chen Fengzheng took Huang Anfu to a mobilization meeting.

"Folks, everyone also knows that our Qingxi needs to rely on post road transportation to a large extent,"

Chen Feng stood at the gate of the yamen, looking at the hundreds of villagers below, full of anger, "Just like last year's disaster, if there is no post road, then we will not be able to transport grain and vegetables from outside, how many people will starve to death." ”

"Although our Qingxi is limited by geography, it also benefits from geographical advantages, only by ensuring the smooth flow of post roads, can we ensure that our people's livelihood is getting better and better, don't you say?"

"Lord Qingtian, we all understand the truth, but finally the weather is good this year, and I still think that we can get more food this year, otherwise we won't be able to pay taxes when the autumn harvest comes," one said worriedly.

This is also the concern of many people, and with the people who take the lead, they have asked if they can postpone the construction of the post road.

Chen Feng is very worried now, just a few days ago, Lai Wanchun sent a secret letter, instructing him to use the silver of the imperial court to repair the post road in the south, and leave the north alone, because the post road to the south is smooth, and they can reach Qingxi County as quickly as possible.

Lai Wanchun even instructed him to take control of the Inspection Department next, and when the King of Dingchuan sent troops, he needed to take the soldiers and horses as much as possible as a rear surprise army, so as to cooperate with the outside and break through Chaoning Wei as quickly as possible.

It can be seen that the king of Dingchuan can no longer bear it.

Chen Feng even doubted that no matter whether the imperial court would cut the feudal domain, the king of Dingchuan would probably have to raise troops.

It is likely that their purpose is no longer to prevent the imperial court from cutting down the domain, but to overthrow the current emperor and become the emperor themselves.

Therefore, it is even more important to ensure the smooth flow of the post road.

Only in this way, if the war really broke out, the army of the imperial court could support it in time.

"Folks, please be quiet,"

Chen Feng comforted: "I understand that everyone has difficulties, but serving is everyone's obligation, and this time I have persuaded the imperial court to allocate funds, I will not let the villagers do it completely in vain." ”

Hearing the word "won't be done in vain", someone instantly boiled and asked excitedly: "Master Qingtian, do you mean that there will be wages, the same as last year's digging of the river?" ”

Su Kezhi, who was standing next to him, couldn't listen to it, and said angrily: "You guys are whimsical, it stands to reason that digging the river last year was also a conscription, and my eldest brother took into account the disaster, you know how high your wages are,"

"Now that you are building a post road, you still want such a high salary, you touch your conscience and say no, speaking of which, service is a must, to you..."

"Don't say it," Chen Feng hurriedly grabbed Su Kezhi.

The people below were not irritable, but they all bowed their heads with some guilt after listening to Su Kezhi's words.

Chen Feng took a step forward and was about to speak.

Suddenly, there was a rapid sound of horses' hooves behind the crowd, accompanied by an eager voice, "Huang County Order, Chen County Cheng, something is wrong!" ”